Drivers win in gas price war

Competing stores on Vly Road battle each other on price of fuel to drive business

Updated 8:55 pm, Thursday, December 20, 2012

COLONIE — A gas price war has erupted on Vly Road at the border of Colonie and Niskayuna with motorists lining up on Thursday to take advantage.

On one side is a new Stewart's Shop, where the advertised price is $2.999 a gallon, just a smidgen below the psychological $3 barrier. On the other side is an ExtraMart, where the price is $3.47, although it has been lower.

The skirmish broke out after the rebuilt Stewart's opened the week of Dec. 12, said company spokesman Tom Mailey. "We had not had gas at that location for many years, and we added pumps at the new store. We put a lot of money into this, and we are protecting our investment."

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At the counter inside, a Stewart's regular, who identified himself as "Nap," said both stores have been discounting gas ever since, trying to lure customers. "My wife noticed today's price when she drove by, and called me to say they were at it again."

Judith Chachoute of Schenectady said she was traveling Route 7 for an appointment when she noticed the line of cars at Stewart's and saw the price. "When I was done with my appointment, I came back to fill up my car, and when I get home, I will bring our other two cars to fill up, too," she said.

Her bill came to about $37, about $6 or $7 less than it would have cost otherwise. "This is the holidays, and every little bit helps," she said.

A clerk at the ExtraMart called the situation "a little bit of friendly competition. Everyone wins, especially the consumer."

The average price for a gallon of gas in the Albany area is $3.65, according to albanygasprices.com.

AAA's Daily Fuel Gauge Report, meanwhile, found that a gallon of regular unleaded in the Capital Region cost $3.605 on Thursday, down a nickel in the past week and nearly 18 cents over the past month.

But it still costs 15 cents more per gallon than last year at this time, the AAA survey found.